The Rule of 5

A Simple Method for Creating and Writing Blog Posts

2007-12-18T12:17:22Z

Consistently writing new content is essential for bloggers, but it seems that there is a lack of knowledge about how to do it. Certainly, with millions of blogs, there are millions of idiosyncratic writers, but the question still remains, “How Does Blogger X Write Her Blog Posts.”

You would think that people would just lace up their shoes and run, so to speak, but I see this question all the time on various forums. And the topic keeps coming up on huge sites like Problogger. It seems that people are really interested in this kind of information.

With that in mind, I thought I would throw my hat into the ring and give you my own method of choice. 80% of my posts are written in this way.

Three stages of writing

As I see it, there are essentially three stages when you endeavor to write something new.

You have no idea what you will write
You know the subject, but nothing else
You know the subject, and have a direction

The amount of information at your disposal is different between the three stages, but all else remains the same.

No Idea

You know you want to write something, but have no subject and no direction. If you want to write an article for your website for example, it might be wise to first find out what area of your niche you wish to explore.

How do you do it? Sit down with a pen and paper, or fingers and keyboard, and start to write. Just go and go, taking no breaks between words. If you can’t think of anything to write, then do this:

I can’t think of anything to write. I am supposed to write a new blog post but I can’t think of anything. Maybe that is where to start. The writer sits at his keyboard, wondering what to write. I wonder if others have the same problems with creation. That is a good direction…I will write about creativity!

Etc., etc.

Of course, it might take much longer to find your topic, but this basic process works well.

Just do your best to get black on white. Please remember that this is not the time to be critical or worrisome about the direction of what you write.

That is what rewrites are for, anyway.

You know the subject, but nothing else

Let’s say you wish to write a post for your blog about creativity. That is all you know. The problem here is that this subject is so broad, it could branch off into one million different directions. But fret not, as this is a fine place to be.

The first thing you should do is make a list of twenty directions you might take it. For example:

Creativity Topics
1. Process of
2. How to be
3. What is
4. How I do something
5. Common methods of being
6. Conditions for optimal
7. Subconscious programming

And so on.

In the above example, all topics relate to creativity, i.e., Process of Creativity, What is Creativity, etc.

Writing the second half of this list might be very difficult for most of you. After you have fifteen good ideas, you may tend to get stale. But don’t give up! It is usually the last five or so ideas that really shine. Stick it out, champ!

You have a subject and a direction

Things are infinitely easier at this point. The real work still has not begun, but you now have a concrete direction, and that is what you need to wrap this thing up quickly.

Let’s say that you have chosen “How I do something,” as your topic. Now you have your subject, Creativity, and the direction, How I do something. How about, My Method of Time Management? Focus on that. Tell us all about it.

This step is similar to the above, but instead of brainstorming a sentence for a direction, you will brainstorm two things: subheadings and entire paragraphs.

First, My Method of Time Management, becomes the heading on a new piece of paper (or new blank document).

Second, beneath the header, make a list of five to ten points you would like to cover. These points will be come the subheadings for your article.

Third, with the topic and the subheadings in mind, begin pounding out paragraphs. I find that short paragraphs are best for this stage, but you may fill them out right away. Either will work equally well, based on your own temperament.

Here is an example of how it might go down:

My Method of Time Management
1. How I keep track of things
2. Other methods that did not work for me, and why
3. How I get things done in a hurry
4. How to feel relaxed during a frenzied work pace
5. An easy method of capturing ideas

At this point, each subheading becomes a topic for brainstorming paragraphs. Do not be overly concerned with writing great stuff. Just get your ideas down. I have already said this, but it bears repeating. You are essentially writing for the trash can. Keep that foremost in your mind.

Thinking of your writing in this way gives you the freedom to mess up, but still keep going. It may also keep you from incessantly editing every five seconds, questioning your abilities, and any number of other useless thought patterns.

Something you may notice is after a brief breaking-in period, you will write much faster this way. There are no worries; only the work. It is quite liberating to give yourself permission to suck. (Remember, fixing occurs in the editing, not in the writing.)

Let’s have an example of how it might look:

My Method of Time Management
1. How I keep track of things
I use a simple system of notebooks that allow me to easily track and complete the things that I do from day to day.

An important thing to keep in mind is you need simplicity in your system. Otherwise, it becomes too difficult to handle.

Capturing your ideas, as they come, is one of the most important things you can do to enhance your creative life.

2. Other methods that did not work for me, and why
I have tried GTD, Covey’s 7 Habits, and Tony Robbins Rapid Planning Method, but none of them seemed to work well for me. Certain elements were brilliant, but others left me wondering if I would ever use it.

One reason I did not care for the above, is the implementation didn’t seem to suit the way I work. They all had wonderful strong points, but no single system worked well enough.

In the end, I decided on a minimalistic approach that has worked wonders for me.

And so on.

Each sentence above can easily be expanded into a larger format, without being too wordy. Just write as much as you can to get your basic idea across.

In The End

After you have finished getting down your ideas, you begin the task of editing to tighten up what it is you wish to say. This is, for most of us, a fun process. Especially is you have released the need to be perfect. (And if you have given yourself permission to write terribly, it can be downright cathartic.)

After editing, it is quite possible that you will have an entirely different kind of article than what you had expected. If that happens to you, then go with it. Take it to the end and see where you end up.

(I did this very thing for my series, Capturing Creativity.)

The Inspiring Story of Rocky Balboa

2007-12-13T02:31:10Z

Most of us, with at least a cursory interest in personal development, have heard the story of Sylvester Stallone and the making of Rocky. Usually, we hear that he was inspired by the classic Ali/Wepner fight, and afterwards he wrote the script for Rocky in three days.

But there is much more to it than that.

This is an inspiring story that will motivate you to take action toward whatever it is you want in your life.

Capturing Creativity - Part 3

2007-12-11T08:59:09Z

This is the last in a three part series on creativity. If you have not already done so, check out Part 1 and Part 2.

After you have your ideas, what is the best way to capture them?

Well, first of all, I do not know that there is an unchanging, best way. The greater systems of capturing take the flow of human life into account. That being said, there are very few “greater systems” out there. It seems that the best self-managers take elements of various systems they find suitable with their goals and flow of life.

My own method is based on Zen To Done (or ZTD), created by Leo Babauta. I follow it close enough, but I don’t consider it the final stop, as far as productivity is concerned. It does fit in nicely with my life and everything I do on a daily basis.

Capturing Everything as it Comes

This is probably the most important activity I can perform at any given moment. My brain is unforgiving when it comes to creative ideas, so I need a way to ensure that what I come up with, or what appears through the ether, doesn’t get lost.

I use Moleskine notebooks for capturing purposes, and have had these little things with me for years now. They aren’t cheap (in Japan, they are close to twenty bucks apiece), but the functionality and durability of these notebooks are legendary. Besides, Van Gogh and Hemingway used them, and I always imagine a feeling of connection with these long dead giants whenever I whip it out and start taking notes.

Every-time I leave the house, I am sure to take my little notebooks with me. If I am on the train, it is easy for me to slip into the “other” world, and I can usually find a usable idea in there somewhere, on nearly every jaunt.

In ZTD, Leo recommends that you use one notebook for this process of capturing. I, however, use three. It might sound like a lot to keep track of, but it fits in quite easily with my way of doing things.

Let’s have a look at the notebooks I use, and how I use them.

The Big Three

With my own customizations, these little things keep me on top of what I need to record. The pictures only serve to remind me of what I am doing, and to add a little inspiration.

#1. TO-DO

The name says it all, eh?

I use this to capture anything I should do at a later time.

“Oh, I have to e-mail Mariko.”

“Oh, I need to get that Christmas card for Motomi.”

“Oh, My wife is coming home at 6:00, and I have to hide the mistress.”

Those sort of things.

This is not necessarily a notebook for creativity. I use it more as a to-do list capture.

I also use it for new website ideas, such as messing with the sidebar or designing a new header image.

TO-DO is a plain Moleskine notebook with 192 pages.

#2. Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla is my creative thinking and visualization hero. He had one of the the greatest creative minds of the twentieth century. The stories of his creative acumen are legendary, and I like to think that having his picture on this notebook will inspire my own creative powers.

I use Tesla for my own creative work. If it is a scene for a film, a character for a book, a musical idea, or whatever, it goes in this one. (However, I use TO-DO for blog post ideas.)

For writing out scenes, I like to take advantage of Tesla’s length, as you can see below:

Tesla is a plain Moleskine reporter’s notebook with 192 pages.

#3. Arthur Saxon

Arthur Saxon was a famous strong man at the turn of the 20th century. He, along with Eugene Sandow, are probably the most famous early body-builders. Probably the first, actually.

I use Saxon to record all of my own workouts. and since I work out at home, he never leaves the house.

For the last year or so, I have been working out with kettlebells exclusively. Not because I think they are better, but the gyms in my area are pitiful. They have NO barbells. and their dumbbells only go up to 40 lbs! What am I going to do with that?

I use a simple system to log my workouts. Well, it is simple to me. Good luck in deciphering it.

Arthur Saxon is a ruled Moleskine notebook with 192 pages.

What Happens Next?

TO-DO and Tesla are just for capturing ideas on the fly as I go about my day. After capturing the ideas, I still have to transfer them to wherever I am going to work on them.

I have a large notebook at home for screenplays, scenes, characters and the like, so I will empty Tesla’s contents into it. (That sounded macabre.) There is too little space within Tesla for that to be reasonably possible. And for TO-DO, I transfer those items immediately to my 2008 Desk Diary (which can be seen at the top of this post.)

I could go on and on about the process, but I think it is enough to say that capturing your ideas, as they come, is one of the most important things you can do for your creative life. You don’t necessarily have to have multiple notebooks for differing subjects as I do, but you will at least need one.

So get to it.

For more info on Zen To Done, visit Zenhabits.

For more info on the wonderful Moleskine line of notebooks, visit Moleskine.com.

Takuin’s Top 20 Writers for Everyday Artistic Inspiration - Part 2

2007-12-06T04:43:35Z

To see the writers 1 through 10, check out Part 1

#11. George Romero

A personal favorite of mine, I was first introduced to his work by my mom when I was 12 years old. She bought me a VHS tape of Night of the Living Dead. We went on to later see Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead. Too many people pass these films off due to the subject matter, but there is quite a lot happening on a thematic level. You might want to have a look for yourselves.

Romero has also directed many other popular horror films such as Martin, Creepshow, and The Dark Half.

(P.S. If you see Dawn of the Dead, get the original, and not that train-wreck of a remake)

#12. Takeshi Kitano

I saw him in Tokyo the other day. I am pretty sure he was filming a sketch of some kind because he was dressed up as a sort of mentally challenged homeless child. I wish I could have taken a picture of that.

I first saw him in Violent Cop, which was his directorial debut back in ‘89. He became known as a maker of violent Yakuza movies, but recently, he has made interesting transitions in his art, and is always featured favorably at film festivals all over the world.

I was blown away after seeing his remake of Zatoichi, where he starred alongside popular Japanese actor, Tadanobu Asano.

#13. Willie Shakespeare

What can I say about this guy? Not much, as it has all already been said.

I am sure you know the name Hamlet, but have you read it? No?

Shame on you.

#14. Michio Kaku

In my mind, Michio Kaku is this century’s answer to Albert Einstein. He is the co-founder of String Field Theory, and is currently working on a Theory of Everything.

Recently, Michio wrote (and hosted) the award-winning BBC series, Time.

The last book of his I read was, Parallel Worlds.

In 2009, I hope to have a series of dialogues with him on the future of humanity.

#15. Byron Katie

Katie has done more work toward world peace in the last 10 years than most people will do in an entire lifetime.

She developed a system known as The Work, to bring an end to suffering within. To read more about it, or to see videos of her in action, visit Byron Katie’s Blog.

Her latest book is A Thousand Names for Joy.

#16. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Of course, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best remembered for creating the greatest deductive mind in fiction, Sherlock Holmes. I have read all of those stories so many times, yet still find them highly entertaining. Get into them for yourself, as they are quick reads and will leave you feeling refreshed (and probably, a bit stupid).

By the way, my favorite actor to portray Holmes was Jeremy Brett.

#17. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

When I was around 17 years old, I memorized Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Looking back on that, I have to wonder how the hell I did it. That poem is HUGE. I can barely remember any of it today.

Another favorite of mine is the oft quoted Kubla Kahn. It is unfinished, as Coleridge was interrupted during composition by a person from Porlock.

#18. Ben Elton and Richard Curtis

You may notice some familiar faces in the photo above, none of which belong to Ben Elton or Richard Curtis. But they are both responsible for the series from which this pictures comes.

BLACKADDER.

Over the years, that series alone has brought more joy to me than nearly any other show. Featuring Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson, and Hugh Laurie, the series encompasses five different time periods in the lives of the same (or similar) people. My personal favorite is season three. Although season two could very well be the best.

#19. James Joyce

Please, please, please read Ulysses!

That is all I have to say about that.

#20. Mark Twain

When you read any story of Twain’s, it absolutely screams AMERICAN. But not due to any ideology or belief. It is completely due to his voice, which is so unmistakably American, that you could easily fool yourself into believing everything is the way he says it is. Faulkner called him, the Father of American Literature.

And unfortunately, many of the seedier elements of America that he wrote about 100 years ago, are still present today. I wonder what he would have made of the current political situation? I am sure he would not be happy at all.

My favorite story of his is Number 44, The Mysterious Stranger. Most people erroneously think it to be anti-god, or anti-religion. But underneath, this story is really about human consciousness. Everything in the story can be reduced to reality or illusion as it perceived through the mind of humanity. Simply saying that Mark Twain is anti-god is the dullard’s way out.

Oh, check out his library!

Of course, this list is just a short representation of what one might find in most libraries, and many of you might agree and disagree, but all of that is fine. These are just a few people that I have enjoyed over the years. Looking into any of these people will provide a rich vein of inspiration for your own work, whatever it may be.

I hope you have enjoyed the trip.

Capturing Creativity - Part 2

2007-12-04T07:18:15Z

There you are off to the post office on foot, when suddenly you are seized by a wonderful idea. This could be an for a blog post, interesting web design, lyrics to the second verse of your latest song, or whatever.

You feel the power of this idea, and it is easy to imagine the wonderful places it may take you. You can see how it could lead to this twist and turn, this beautiful design, or that lovely phrase.

You have just been hit with the creative hammer, right on the head. When these things strike, it is truly a blessing. These things don’t necessarily come everyday, so when they do it is imperative that we make note of it. But instead, what do you do?

I know my brain. I will be able to remember it when I get home.

OR…

If it is such a huge idea, It will come to me again.

OR, perhaps pathetically…

Wow. What an awesome idea. Too bad I don’t have anything to write on.

Why-oh-why do we slap our creative powers in the face? When you feel that surge of adrenaline, the electricity of insight, or the high that comes with these great ideas, why don’t you WRITE IT DOWN? It is such an easy thing to do.

There are a few reasons for not writing down your ideas:

1.) You don’t see them for what they are

This boggles the mind, because when these ideas come, they do everything in their power to make themselves known. Your heart-rate increases, everything vanishes from your perception apart from the idea , and there is genuine giddiness. How can you not see them?

I know some of you may think, “That has never happened to me. I must not be creative.” Could it be that it has never happened? Or is it more likely, the ideas do not seem to arrive because you are not open to the possibility of them being there?

This is clear to me only because I am open to the arrival of these ideas.

It wasn’t always this way, of course. These things have been arriving all my life, but I never really took notice of them. I thought they were just daydreams, and therefore, I’d better focus on something more important. Oh, the shame! But one day, I decided to follow the next idea that came; follow it to wherever it went.

And I was shocked.

It went to so many places and led to many avenues that I had not imagined possible. There were interesting directions, compelling directions; too many to follow. The only way I could keep up was to write these things down as quickly as possible.

There might be an inclination to only follow the ideas that are familiar to you. For example, if you are a fiction writer, your urge might lead you to pursue ideas that have been done one million times before, because you think them to be safe. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Chase after the things that are scary and unfamiliar. Go for the ideas that make you say, “What the hell?” Even if it seems crazy to do so. Follow it and find out just how crazy it might be.

The world does not need any more safe art.

2.) You think you don’t have the ability to pull it off

I’ll make this as simple as possible for you:

If you have the ability to dream it, you have the ability to create it.

If you think of anything in this world that has been built, designed, or otherwise created by humanity, this has always been the case.

I know some smart-ass is thinking, “Well, what if I want to create something like Michelangelo’s David? If I dream it, does that mean I’ll be able to build it?”

First, are you a sculptor? Do you constantly imagine and think about your magnum opus? Is it your greatest and highest passion to design a thing of beauty for generations to come? Is sculpting the thing you were born to do? Are you constantly building things out of whatever you can find? If so, then I say go for it.

Let’s not get into nit-picky semantics here. If you are following your abiding interest, you will take it as far as you can go with it. That is the nature of this passion. If you have it, you will take it to the end. And everyone has it. Whether they believe it or not.

3.) You arrogantly think you will remember it for later

Do you regularly forget your car keys, or are they constantly misplaced? Do you get to the store then realize you didn’t bring any money? Do you forget people’s names? Yes?

Then, you will forget your ideas.

They will slip away the way dreams escapes us as we move about in the morning. Don’t just bask in the excitement of your new idea; record it in some way that suits you.

It isn’t only due to weak powers of memory, though. Having that high of momentary creative birth is a peak state that cannot be maintained indefinitely. Your idea could well pass on, as the surge in energy slowly slips away.

Don’t let this happen to you!

What to do?

CAPTURE THESE IDEAS AS THEY COME.

Carry a small notebook and a pen. As these things come, jot them down in any way that allows you to remember them.

Most likely, your means of note taking will be as unique as your own personal expression. Highly ordered people will have lists upon lists of stuff, organized neatly into a system that is easily retrievable for them. A painter might mix words with multi-colored images. A musician might use a mixture of the treble and bass clef, filling them in with color based on the mood they wish to convey.

Idea capture should be something to look forward to, not a tedious task. It might be necessary to match the system to your personal traits. Anything that allows you to continue capturing ideas.

Losing a passionate idea is like losing a child. Never let them stray too far.

In the third, and final part of this series, I will show my own methods of note taking and idea capturing. Stay tuned!

Takuin’s Top 20 Writers for Everyday Artistic Inspiration - Part 1

2007-11-30T08:09:44Z

As a writer myself, I realize the need and necessity of reading voluminous amounts of text. Initially, this relates to the craft of writing itself, but eventually turns into doing for the joy of doing.

Over the years I have dipped into tons of books, and films, and have found that these twenty artists, more than anything else, have inspired me to produce work I might not have hit upon, on my own.

Of course, there is no way of knowing, absolutely, how these things help, but I find inspiration for my own work increases after dosing myself with the following giants.

In no particular order they are:

#1. Stephen King

I was 15 years old when I read my first King book, The Stand. It changed the way I looked at horror, survival, and growth, and greatly inspired me to try to write for myself.

#2. Harlan Ellison

My first trip into the world of Ellison occurred when I lived in Shin-Urayasu, some nine years ago. I had never so quickly been taken by a writer’s expression, and it fundamentally changed the way I viewed storytelling.

He has led a remarkably interesting, and dangerous, life. If you have the chance to learn more about him, I say GO FOR IT.

(As a side note, the very first Ellison story I ever read has been posted online, with Uncle Harlan’s permission, of course. It is called, The Three Most Important Things in Life.)

#3. Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates is one of those writers, with incredibly fluid literacy, able to tell any kind of story. Her giant novel Blonde, blew my mind when I first read it. (The 700-plus-page tome is based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, as a fictional memoir of her early life.)

She is also the Roger S. Berlind ‘52 Professor in the Humanities with the Program in Creative Writing at Princeton University.

#4 Ernest Hemingway

The ultimate, living description of less being more. His approached inspired my own methods of creation, but not only in writing. I approach music and film directly as well, without splashes, explosions, or euphemistic clumsiness. Err…hopefully.

“Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don’t know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use.”

E.H.

#5. Jiddu Krishnamurti

Throughout his life, he barely wrote anything. Most of what exists are transcripts of talks he gave on the struggles of humanity.

His work is for all of humanity, but there are few that seem to be able to handle it in large doses. Peoplejust donot like confronting themselves.

#6. H.P. Lovecraft

A racist, isolationistic, effete snob. Who would have thought that he would be more influential to modern horror tales than Poe? Well, it is true.

He has heavily influenced several people on this list, including King, Gaiman, Oates, and Matheson.

#7. Neil Gaiman

I was thoroughly sold after reading American Gods.

A wonderful storyteller with a unique imagination. Anyone interested in new ideas for themselves might do well to read his work.

#8. Akira Kurosawa

Arguably, the greatest Japanese film maker of all time. He is certainly the most famous, world-wide.

My first exposure was with the film, Ikiru. My heart was thoroughly warmed and broken at the same time.

His influence seems to be greater outside of Japan than inside. That is quite a shame. But I guess the same thing could be said about John Ford.

#9. Rod Serling

This chain smoking, Nazi hating storyteller has always been one of my favorites. He is, of course, most well-known for the American television show, The Twilight Zone.

Not many people know this, but Serling’s contract stipulated that he be responsible for at least 80% of the scripts for the show. He must have written like a mad-man.

One of my favorite Serling stories is from a few years before the success of The Twilight Zone. Called, Requiem for a Heavyweight, it starred Jack Palance as a once-promising but now washed-up boxer who faces the end of his career after he is savagely defeated by a younger man.

Check him out, if you have not done so already.

#10. Richard Matheson

Matheson has had a great influence on Stephen King, and is responsible for writing, what might be the greatest vampire story outside of Dracula. Called, I am Legend, it has finally been made into a film that is just about to be released in the United States. I worried that it would be a poor adaptation, but it seems to hold great promise.

He also wrote for the Twilight Zone, supplying some of the most quoted and oft seen episodes, including Steel, and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

He has, in my opinion, created some of the finest horror and suspense stories ever written.

More to come…

Capturing Creativity - Part 1

2007-12-11T09:03:58Z

An oft asked question is, “Where does one get ideas for blog posts / books / stories / films / songs? etc.,” as if creativity and idea generation is something for bigger and better minds. But the reality is, the folks that usually ask these questions do not know how to observe and embrace life as it comes.

I hate to break it to you, but there is scant little magic within the creative process. You can get more ideas through dint of hard work than by just sitting at an idea convention (if there even IS such a thing). And while there is nothing wrong with attending conventions, it might be more beneficial to work as fast as you can toward your goals within the same time frame.

Working hard might not be as hip and timely as meditating and asking the universe for ideas, but in the end, it will be your pick-axe that clears the way for the tracks of creativity.

Just don’t be afraid to get dirty. After all, it is the small bit of grit that makes a pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other mollusks. And it is this grime of life that opens the creative doors to flexibility, and those moments inspire us to break the walls of mediocrity. But two things must happen first:

You have to be aware of life around you, as it comes.
You have to capture these insights, as they come.

Part one of this series will focus on the awareness of life for creative endeavors.

Creativity Thrives as Life Moves

There are countless experiences, actions, paintings, songs, people, animals, religions, etc., that can be used as a pool for your own ideas. There is no lack of source material, even if at first glance, it seems ho-hum. But you need ingenuity in the way you view seemingly mundane occurrences.

For example, does your wife / husband / partner have an interesting way of putting their clean clothes in the dresser? Can anything be made of it? If you are looking for blog post ideas, how about:

5 Things My Partner’s Underwear Drawer Can Teach You About Blogging

I am not exactly sure what it could teach, but the title alone moves your mind in such a way that you MUST find out.

Is it the way the clothes are stacked by color? Are items organized by material? Are there name-tags in curious places? What is unique, and how can it be turned into creative material?

This kind of idea just begs, “Please bring me to fruition!” Partly because of the novelty, but mostly because of the curiosity that it creates. I really want to know. It is curiosity that killed the cat, after all.

And speaking of cats, the other day, while standing in my kitchen, I heard the most terrible inhuman screaming coming from outside the window. Being naturally curious, I opened the door to the patio and investigated. Across the street on top of a small house, two cats were fighting to the death. This was not a playful tussle, but a real bloody-fur-flying death match.

My first thought was, “What can I do about this?” The answer, of course was, nothing really. The only thing I could consider was throwing something at them. So I went back into the kitchen and grabbed an egg from the fridge. But I realized that the egg didn’t have enough weight to be completely accurate. Then I thought about an apple, but that could kill one of the cats at that distance. It would certainly give the fight advantage to the cat I didn’t hit.

Of course, if I threw an apple, or an egg, and missed the house, what might I hit?

Right then, an idea struck. Recently, I have been working on a screenplay about kids and their experiences. I won’t get into it too deeply here. But I asked myself, if children were seriously fighting one another in the street, what would an old man do to break it up?

I imagine an old WWII veteran walking home from the local grocer. He is carrying a bag of apples. As he approaches his small apartment he sees the kids fighting on the stairs of his building, and they are really going at it. So what does he do? He pelts them with apples until they run home crying.

This was so funny to me. He wasn’t trying to stop the fighting; he just wanted to get into his apartment.

So, two important creative elements came from my encounter with the fighting cats:

I got an idea for a scene.
My story completely changed.

Why did it change? Because now, I am not so concerned with the kids that were fighting; I am more interested in the old man throwing apples. His character is more interesting, and it seems to me that he has a lot of things to say. In other words, he took over the story.

That is the unglamorous creative mind at work; I saw cats fighting on a roof, and that turned into an old man hitting kids in the head with apples.

Creativity is not Forced

Creation through coercion is a terrible practice. Using force to cause ideas to occur overrides the mind’s natural ability to create with fluidity. Hard work does not equal brute force.

This is where meditation comes into play. I am sure you will find higher levels of creativity when you observe and project from a relaxed state of mind. This can be any form of relaxation you are already practicing, and need not be anything special. As long as it relaxes you, and gets you ready for the task at hand, that is just the ticket.

This is not a religious practice, and you do not have to believe anything. This kind of activity is anything that quiets you down and stills the mind a bit. You don’t need funky incense, or a fancy pillow to sit on.

For some people, listening to soft music with their eyes closed is enough. For others it might be breathing exercises, or light physical exercise like a brisk walk. I encourage you to experiment and find something that relaxes you without putting you to sleep.

But please note, you do not have to stay at home for this to be effective. You can carry this relaxed state with you, as you go about your day.

But you might ask, “How can I be relaxed and active at the same time?” It might seem difficult to grasp at first, but once you get your feet wet, it becomes easier and easier.

For me, my levels of creativity are highest when there is an almost equal amount of relaxation AND tension. It is difficult to put into words, but it feels like a wiry energy. Almost as if you are just about ready to explode, but not quite. It is not nervousness, but excitement, or free energy. It is trance-like.

You will eventually come to realize that you do not become relaxed then creative. Rather, creativity IS relaxation. It is one and the same.

Catching the Creativity Virus

The more you generate these ideas from a relaxed state, the more addictive it becomes. It might seem like work at first, but after a few successes, you will realize that your mind is just as bright as any other. It is important to accept your own creative ability.

If you are not used to being creative, it is natural to question whether you can do it. It can seem scary because in order to be really creative, you have to take responsibility for yourself and your ideas. It is shaky ground at first, but each successive exposure deepens the creative groove in your mind. Get moving and never look back.

Accept that not all of your ideas will be gold. You will almost certainly sift through a lot of crap to get through to the good stuff. However, the more ideas you generate, the greater your chances of true expression.

And true expression can make anyone successful.

In Part 2, we will go over how to capture these ideas as they come.

If you dig this article, be sure to Digg it. (Or if you stumble over this article, be sure to stumble it?) You get the picture. Simply use the links below. Any attention is highly appreciated.

How to Achieve Your Highest Potential as a Writer

2007-11-20T10:43:10Z

This is short and sweet, but it is really all you need.

Whilst surfing about the other day, I found the wonderful site, Copyblogger. I have been there before, but didn’t have the time to thoroughly check it out. During my latest visit, I found what can only be described as the greatest guide to writing ever conceived. (That is MY definition, by the way.)

I am not exaggerating when I say, if you follow this advice, it will give you the greatest chance to be the best writer you can be. It will serve you better than any fancy-schmancy method, or find your inner bliss kind of fluff.

Have I sufficiently increased your sense of wonder? Then get along to the article, 10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer.

And a big thank you to Brian Clark for writing this, and setting my head straight.

Goal Centered Behavior

2007-09-14T07:04:24Z

“Look at your goals. Look at your behaviors. Does your behavior match your goals? It’s the million dollar question…It’s one thing to have a goal. It’s quite another to line your behaviors up with your goals.” - Strength Coach Dan John

It seems like such a simple thing, really. You decide upon your goal, then you take actions toward it. You change your behavior to match the person you wish to become. If you want to be a superior athlete, then you make the same decisions a superior athlete would make. If you want to be a first rate blogger, you adopt the same (or similar) behaviors as the expert. So simple, a caveman could do it.

But here is the real million dollar question. Why don’t we do it?

Please Help With Goal! Me Beg You!

Failure To Act Appropriately

A guy sets a goal to lose 100 lbs (about 45 kg). He gets a gym membership, a vat of protein powder, and some spiffy new clothes for the workouts. He goes to the gym twice per week, and totally ignores proper eating habits (except for that tasty protein shake once per day).

His goal is certainly life-changing; losing 100 lbs would turn your life completely around. But what about his behaviors? Do they match the goal? Hell no! With his actions, is there any possible way to meet the goal? How can he possibly succeed?

Maybe after two weeks, having not lost 20 pounds, he’ll concede defeat, and leave the gym with tail between legs.

Or how about this one…

A gal wants to become the next ProBlogger. She sets up her blog, gets a domain name (self-hosted, of course), and gets it all looking pretty sweet. She posts infrequently, whenever she feels like it, never responds to comments, and provides very little value to others.

Her goal could certainly be life-changing, too. The kind of money a successful blogger can pull down is striking, if they provide enough value. But how much value is our little blogger providing? None, really. She might have a great and exciting goal, but her behaviors do not match that of a successful blogger (never mind Problogger).

Perhaps after a month or two, having not seen the growth once visualized, she decides that no money can be made blogging, and goes off to do something else, abandoning her goal.

But what if she could provide astonishing value, changing peoples lives, saving them from the brink of some sort of destruction? Well, we’ll never know. She might go on to greater things, but if she keeps the same behaviors, she’ll never get very far.

Of course, abandoning her goal could lead to something even greater, but I always like to wonder What If?

What If? - A Life Changing Question

Most people use this question negatively. They use it as a way to question themselves into grief.

What if I never got married?

What if I would have stayed with my ex?

What if I took the higher paying job instead of this one?

What if I would have graduated college?

Etc., etc. It is all so depressing. What they never imagine is that this very same question can be used in an empowering way.

What if I were the top salesperson in my company? If I were already there, what behaviors and actions would I be taking every single day?

What if I were on the Dean’s List at Berklee College of Music? If I were already there, what sort of actions am I performing on a daily basis?

What if I were the kind of person that could forgive others? How would I live my life in stressful situations? What behaviors would I take in forgiving?

What if I worked for Bungie Games?(Halo 3 comes out later this month…woo-hoo!) What skills would I be using at a high level in my job as a programmer / tester / writer, etc? What can I do today, to match my level of commitment in the perceived future?

The Master Chief - Bungie’s Golden Boy

This little exercise can help you get into action right away. If you have some trouble imagining the next step to take, just ask yourself, “What if I were the kind of person that knew what to do next? What would I do?“ It might seem strange to those of you not familiar with this technique, but it works!

Do It Now!

I am convinced that we all already know what to do. We just do not ask powerful questions. And we never ask impossible questions. If you think a result or goal is impossible, then ask an impossible question. We only put the question of what is possible, and never the question of what is impossible. Maybe that is why so many of us have very familiar and lackluster results.

Be honest with yourself as you move toward your goals. Constantly ask, “Do my behaviors match my goals?” If they do, great! Keep on moving forward. But if not, you need to adjust and change your approach or you’ll be eternally stuck. Either you bring your behaviors up to match your big goals, or you take the lazy approach to match your weak commitment.

The choice is yours.

39 Things To Know About Me

2007-08-29T11:01:36Z

I was recently tagged by the lovely mind behind Shine With Grace, to participate in something called “13 Questions, 39 Answers“. This was originally started by Trinity at Rooms Of My Heart.

I don’t usually get involved with these sort of things, but it seemed kind of interesting to me. Besides, it might interest someone out there to know 39 things about me…I cannot really think of who that person is, but whatever.

3 things that scare me

Fear is a projection of mind. I have to generate fear in order to have it. You can read more about that HERE.

3 people who make me laugh

Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Dave Chappelle
Bob Odenkirk and David Cross

3 things I love

Japanese Curry
RockStar Energy Drink (in the Blue Can)
Point and Click Adventure Games

3 Things I Hate

I have no time for hate.

3 things I don’t understand

Anything that is not yet known to me.

3 things on my desk

80 GB Video iPod
A Black Fountain Pen
French Writing Paper

3 things I’m doing right now

This
Listening to the College University Podcast
Sitting at My Desk

3 things I want to do before I die

Live in Paris
Work in Africa
Be on Oprah (why not, right?)

3 things I can do

Play Guitar
Kettlebell Snatches
Watch Films All Day

3 things I can’t do

Believe My Thoughts
Deadlift 500 lbs
Speak French

3 things I think you should listen to

Mr. Bungle
Paco De Lucia
J. Krishnamurti

3 things you should never listen to

It really is not for me to say.

3 shows I watched as a kid

I’ll assume that “show” includes film, as well.

Johnny Carson
Night of the Living Dead
Excalibur

There you go. Not as exciting as I thought it might be, although I didn’t entertain much of an idea of excitement, though.